Electric spot welding system



NOV- 4, 1941 H.YR. CANFIELD 2,261,714

ELECTRIC SPOT WELDING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 20, 14939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Nov. 4, 1941.

H. R. CANFIELD ELECTRIC sPoT WELDING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 20., 1939 y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Source INVENTOR.

" or more.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 ELECTRIC SPOT WELDING SYSTEM y Harry R. Canfield, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Clark Controller Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 20, 1939, Serial No; 257,302 s Claims. (ci. zoo-s2) This invention relates to electric welding systems and particularly to spot welding systems of the class in which electrodes are pressureengaged with work to be welded, and electric current of timed duration is caused to flow through the electrodes and the work to effect a Weld thereat.

In systems of this class, it is desirable for the operative elements to be under the control of an operator and to function in such manner that he may cause a single Vweld to be made or a rapid succession of welds optionally.

It is also desirable that after a weld is made, the electrodes will be held in pressure-engagement with the work for a time interval during which the weld may set, such interval being referred to as a cold-hold time interval.

It is also desirable in such systems thata time interval be interposed between successive welds, such time interval being sometimes referredv to as a delay interval, to control the frequency of successive welds.

Systems of this class have been proposed comprising an electric contactor operated by" fluid pressure, such as compressed air, for timing the welding current, and in such cases it is desirable that the current timing contactor shall not operate untilafter a desired pressure has been `attained between the electrodes and the work, and

Athat the contactor shall not operate except at operating fluid pressure of a suitable pressure value, to insure positive uniform operations thereof.

The presentinyention comprises elements and the functions thereof by which the foregoing desirable results are attained in an improved manner.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention:

To provide generally an improved welding system of the spot-welding type;

To provide in a welding system of the class referred to an improved air operated contacter for timing the welding current; improved means for introducing a delay time interval between successive welds; improved means forintroducing a cold-hold time interval after each weld; improved means for delaying the operation of the fluid pressure-operated Welding current timingY contactor until the fluid operating pressure therer at has attained a predetermined value; means by which a single weld or arapid succession of welds may be performed; and improved means for quickly exhausting and` resetting the fluid vpressure operated welding contactor; and these functions singly, or in combination of any two Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains.

" My" invention ifs fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with the following drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the elements of a welding system embodying my invention in one form;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating, in operated position, parts illustrated in Fig. 1 in normal position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modification of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view illustrating, in operated position, parts which are illustrated in normal position in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken from the plane b-G of Fig. 5. f i

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, l have illustrated generally at i and at 2 the upper andlower heads respectively of a welding machine, the lower head having work pieces 3 thereon to be welded. The lower head 2 has associated therewith a lower electrode l which may be stationary, and. the upper head I has associated therewith an electrode 5 arranged to be reciprocated toward and from the work 3 to pressure-engage the Work between the electrodes. The means diagrammatically illustrated comprises a fluid pressure cylinder 6 having therein a piston 1 and a piston rod 8 connected to the electrode'5. The piston is arranged to be reciprocated downwardly by fluid pressure in the cylinder 6 above the piston and to be reciprooated upwardly by a spring 9 in the cylinder.

An electric transformer secondary I0 has the terminals thereof connected to the electrodes 5 and 4 by wires II and I2 and the secondary is arranged to be energized by the transformer primary I3 in a manner to be described.

A magnetic valve device shown generally at I4 is provided comprising a stationary valve housing I5 and a reciprocable valve plunger I6 reciprocating in a suitable bore therein. A source of fluid pressure is diagrammatically illustrated at II and will be understood tocomprise a reservoir of fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, and any means for maintaining pressure in the reservoir; and the source II communicates fluid pressure by a conduit I8 to a duct I 9 in the valve housing I5. When the valve device is in the normal position shown the duct I9 is cut off by the plunger I6, but when the plunger I6,

which is held downward by the spring 20, is.

raised to an upper position by means to beaiescribed, the duct I9 communicates with a duct 2| through a duct 22 in the valve plunger I6 and the fluid pressure is thereby communicated to a conduit 23 and 'thence to the cylinder 6 above the piston 1. l

In the position ofthe valve plunger I6 illus.

traten, the cylinder is exhausted backward by way of the conduit 23, the duct 2|, a branch duct 2li through the said duct 22 and out by an exhaust duct 25.

Communicating with the cylinder 6 above the piston 1 is a conduit 26 leading to a rotary or oscillatory magnetic valve 21. which will presently be described, and inasmuch as the conduit 26 may be of substantial length, it is desirable in some cases to exhaust it and to this purpose, a branch duct 28 leads from the conduit 26 to a duct 29 in the housing l which, in the normal position of the plunger illustrated, communicates through a duct 30 in the plunger i6 to an exhaust duct 3|, in alignment therewith,

The exhaust at 3| is cut oi as is the exhaust at 25 when the plunger I6 is raised to admit uid pressure, as described, to the cylinder 6.

A magnetic plunger 32 is connected to the upper end of the valve plunger i6 and an electromagnetic winding 33 is provided which, when energized, raises the valve plunger |6 in a manner which will be understood, against the tension of the spring 20.

The magnetic Valve 21 comprises a stationary loase 34 having a planar surface 35 and an oscillatable valve head 36 having a planar face 31, mutually engaged with the face 35 and held in fluid pressure sealing relation therewith by a spring 38 reacting at one end upon the head 36 and at the other end upon a head 39 of a bolt, the shank flo of which passes through the head 36 and into the base 34.

The shank ilo thus provides a central pivot upon which the head 36 may be oscillated and the means for oscillating it comprises an arrn il extending laterally irom the head and a roller 42 thereon, and a magnetic plunger 'i3 having upper and lower ngersk '34 and 55 engaging upper and lower sides of the roller 42 respectively, the plunger being arranged to be reclprocated downwardly by a spring i6 stationarily anchored at its lower end and at its upper end secured to the lower end of the plunger 43 and the plunger 43 being arranged to be reciprocated upwardly by an electro-magnetic winding 41, when energized.

The head 36 is held oscillated in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. l and 2 by the spring ii6 and is stopped in a normal position by the engagement of a iinger 48 on the head 36 with a stationary stop 9, and in the operated or counterclockwise position by a stop 59.

The base 34 has, in the embodiment under discussion, four ducts, 5| 52, 53 and 54 extending inwardly radially from the periphery of the base 39 and then upwardly and opening at the said iace 35 thereof. The head 36 has a recess 55 therein so formed that. as illustrated in the drawings, when the head 36 is in its normal position of Fig. l, recess overlaps the upper ends of the ducts 5| 52 and 53 and so that when it is in its operated positiony illustrated in Fig. 2, the recess 55 overlaps the ducts 53 and 54.

The said conduit 26 is connected to the said duct 54. Conduits 56 and 51 are connected respectively to the ducts 53 and 5|. An exhaust conduit 58 is connected to the duct 52.

The said conduit 56 leads to a duct 59 in the lower end of the cylinder 60 of a minimum pressure device designated generally at 6|, and within the cylinder 60 reciprocates a piston valve 62, the lower end of which is of reduced diameter as at 63. The extreme lower end of the reduced diameter portion normally covers and closes the duct 59. A spring 64 reacting at the lower end upon assign.

By this means, when pressure in the conduit 56,

which is a rising pressure, as will be described, is below a predetermined value, the duct 59 is held closed, but when the pressure attains the predetermined value, the piston 62 is raised, opening the duct 59. Upon opening it, the full area of the piston 62 is exposed to the pressure and the piston moves upwardly with a. quick jump-action, fully opening the duct 59 and freely admitting iluid pressure to the cylinder 60.

Any leakage through the duct 59 and around the piston end 63, which might otherwise expose the full piston area to the pressure and prematurely raise it, exhausts by leakage through a duct 65 in the piston extending from its under side to its upper side and exhausting to atmosphere at a leakage duct 66.

When the piston 62 is thus raised, the uid owing from the conduit'56 into the cylinder 60 ows out therefrom through a duct 61 into a conduit 69. At 69 is the cylinder of a cylinder and piston device for operating a. uuid pressure operable electric contacter. A lower piston 19 reciprocates in the cylinder and is joined by a neck 1| to anv upper piston 12, providing a space 13 around the neck. Any means may be provided to seal the pistons in the cylinder, the means illustrated comprising piston rings 14 and 15, on the two pistons respectively.

rThe said conduit 68 communicates by a branch 16 with the space 13 through a duct 11 which may have an annular continuation 18 to equalize the pressure on all sides of the lower piston 1.0 after it moves to cover this duct 11, as will be described. The conduit 68 also communicates with the cylinder 69 below the lower piston 10 by means of a duct 19, this communication being eiected through a ow port 80, the size of which is adjustably regulated and controlled by a needle valve 3|.

A duct 82 extending through the lower piston 19 eiects communication between the cylinder 69 below the piston and the space 13 around the neck above it.

The conduit 51 communicates with the cylinder 69 below the piston 19 by a duct 83.

By these means;l as will presently be described, the cylinder 69 exhausts through the duct 83 and conduit 51, and iiuid pressure may be conducted through -the conduit 68 and ducts 11 and 19, that through the duct 11 being unrestricted, whereby the iluid under pressure in the conduit 69 ilows into the space 13 down through the duct 82 to the cylinder 69 under the lower piston 10, moving the pistons upwardly with a quick jump movement, until the lower piston 19 covers the duct 11. Thereupon the quick movement of the piston stops and the movement is continued by flow through the duct 19, at a generally retarded rate, and in any case, at a rate controlled by the needle valve 9|.

This quick initial movement is utilized to close an electric contacter device and 'the continued generally slower movement is utilized to time the period during which the contacter remains closed to thereby time a welding current impulse, and this will now be described.

A main supporting panel 94 has mounted thereon a frame 95 comprising upper and lower brackets 96 and 81. A plunger 99 reoiprocates at its upper end in a bore 99 in the bracket and at its lower end is of reduced diameter, as at 90, providing a piston rod connected to the upper end of the upper piston 12, and the piston rod reciprocates in a bore 9| in the lower bracket 81, the reduction of diameter providing a shoulder 92 functioning as a stop to engage the lower bracket 81 to stop downward movement of the plunger. The plunger is`moved upwardly by fluid pressure in the cylinder 69, as briefly referred to above, and is reciprocated downwardly by a spring 93 reacting at its lower end upon an arm 94 on the upper end of the plunger 88 and reacting at its upper end upon an arm 95 connected to or integral with the frame 85.

Mounted on one side of the plunger 88 is a cam 96 having an inclined cam face 91, and a vertical cam face 98. An oscillatory arm 99 is mounted on a shaftA |00, the arm and shaft being oscillatable by being supported in a bearing depending from the bracket 81 and by an axially spaced bearing |02 supported in any suitablel manner.

The arm 99 has pivoted thereto a linger |03 constrained to rock clockwise by a spring |04 abutting at its upper end upon a lateral extension |05 of the arm 99 and at its lower end upon the finger |03, the iinger being stopped in a clockwise movement by an abutment |06 on the arm 99. The opposite end oi' the linger |03 carries a roller |01, normally in proximity to the cam surface 91.

When the plunger 88 reciprocates upwardly, the cam surface 91 engages the roller l0? and thereby rocks the arm 99 clockwise through an initial angle of movement. Upon continued movement of the cam 99, the roller ll rolls into engagement with the substantially vertical surface 98 of the cam, maintaining the arm 99 in a clockwise position. At or near the end of `the movement of the plunger 88 and cam 96, the roller |01 rolls vunder the cam and the arm 99 is returned to its original position by a spring |08 abutting at one end upon the frame 85 and at the other end upon the arm 99, which counterclockwise position is determined by a stop |09 on an extension ||0 of the arm 99 below the shaft |00, the stop |09 moving into engagement with the panel 84.

The shaft |00 has mounted thereon a pair of contactor arms |II and ||2, carrying at their upper end contacts I|3 and ||4. Mounted adjacent to these contacts are stationary contacts 5 and I|6 mounted on yieldable arms ||1 and 8.

The initial clockwise movement of thegarm'99,

above referred to, moves the contacts ||3 -and- ||4 into engagement vwith the contacts ||5 and I I6, and the retaining of the arm 99 in its clockwise position maintains these contacts closed. When the cam 96 releases the arm 99, as described, and the arm 99 returns counter-clockwise, the engaged contacts are opened. 'I'he contacts thus remain in engagement for a time period determined by thevelocity of the upward movement of the plunger 88.

Wires I9 and |20 are connected respectively to the arms ||1 and ||8 and to supply mains `|2| and |22 and the said primary I3 of the transformer is connected at its opposite terminals to the arms |I| and ||2 so that when the contacts ||3, II4, ||5 and I|6 are engaged, the transformer is energized and sends a welding current impulse to the electrodes 4 and 5, above referred to, for a timed period.

At the upper end of the plunger 88 is a valve block |23 in a bore in which is a reciprocable piston valve |24, the downward movement of which is stopped by a ange |25 on the Valve engaging the upper side of the block |23 and the upward movement of which is stopped by a flange I 26 on the lower end of the valve engageable with the lower side of the block. The valve has a stem |21, on the upper end portion of which is a stop |28, preferably in the form of a pair of lock nuts, engageable by an extension of the arm 94 on the plunger 88. The valve is normally held downwardly by a spring |29 abutting at opposite ends on the arm 94 and upon the ange |25.

yA conduit |30, communicating with the source ,of iluid pressure |21 at'one end, communicates at the other end with a duct I3| aligned with a duct |32 in the block |23, the two ducts being normally closed by the valve |24 in its normal lower position illustrated. A conduit |33, to be referred to, communicates with a duct |34 in the block, which duct communicates with the duct |32, under the control of a needle valve |35. 'Ihe duct |34 also communicates with a duct |36, alignedy with an exhaust duct I 31, communicating with the atmosphere, the communication of these two ducts being effected around a neck |38 of the valve in its normal position.

, When the valve |24 is moved upwardly by movement of the plunger 89, which effects engagement of the arm 94 with the stop @29, communication between the ducts |36 and |31' is cut ofi and communication between the ducts 53/ and |32 is effected, as will be understood.

Illustrated generally at l, is a delayed operation device comprising a cylinder it@ in which reciprccates a piston i4l. .The said conduit i333 vcommunicates with the cylinder le@ through a duct |42.. The piston Il has a stem 43 projecting upwardly out oi the cylinder, on which is an `adjustable stop |44, preferably in the form of lock nuts threaded on the stern, engaging a head |45 on the upper end of the cylinder. The stem is thereby rendered adjustable upwardly andv downwardly to adjust the position of the upper end of the stem. A spring |46 holds the piston |4| downwardly, abutting at its upper end upon the head |45 and at its lower end upon the piston.

Above the device, |39 is a pair of pivoted contact arms |41 and' |48, normally held by springs |49 and |50 into engagement with stationary contacts I5I' and |52.

At |53 is a relay device comprising an energizing winding |54, a plunger |55l and contacts at closes an operators contactor I 58 of the normally open type. Thereupon electric control current flows from a supply main |59 through the winding |54 of the relay |53, through the operators contactor |58, by a wire |60 to the contactor arm |41, through the arm and the contact I5| engaged therewith, and by wires I6| and ,|62 to the other supply main |63.

The relay device |53-thereupon operates, closing the contacts at |56 and |51, making a maintaining circuit for the winding |54 independently of the operators contactor, namely from the main |59 through the winding |54, through engaged contacts |56, by a wire |65 to the contactor arm 48, through the arm and engaged contact |52, by the wire |62 to the main |83, whereby the relay device wili remain operated. Operation of the relay device effects energization of the winding 4i' of the magnetic valve 21, current fiowing from the main |59 through the winding 41 and by a wire 368 to the contacts at |51 and to the main 163, causing the plunger 43 to be lifted and thereby moving the head 36 of the valve 21 from the position of Fig. l to that of Fig. 2.

At the same time, the winding 33 of the magnetic valve |4 is energized, current flowing from the main |59 by a wire |66 through the winding 33 and by wires |61 and |68 through the contacts |51 to the main |63.

This lifts the valve plunger |6 and thereupon uid pressure, such as compressed air, from the source |1 flows through the conduit I8, the ducts i 9, 22 and 2|, which are now aligned, and by conduit 23 into the cylinder 6 above the piston 1, thus forcing the piston 1 and electrode 5 downwardly, engaging the work 3 between the electrodes 4 and 5.

As well understood, in devices of this kind, the fluid pressure expands in the cylinder 6, so that the pressure in the conduit 26 communicating therewith is a rising pressure. The rising pressure in the conduit 26 is communicated to the duct 54, and thence through the recess 55 and duct 53 to the conduit 56 and thence through the duct 59 to the underside of the piston 62.

When this rising pressure attains a value corresponding to the desired pressure at the electrodes, the spring 64 is overcome and the valve S2 is raised, uncovering the duct 59. The full area of the valve 62 is thereby exposed to the pressure and it jumps up immediately so that the fluid pressure in the conduit 56 is communicated to the cylinder 60 and through the duct 61 to the conduit 53. From the conduit 6B the pressure' is communicated through the conduit 16 and by way of the duct 11 to the space 13 above the lower piston 10, and thence through the duct 82 to the lower side of the piston, and pushes the piston upwardly with a quick movement, until the lower piston 10 covers the duct 11, whereupon the quick movement stops. This movement is sufiicient to cause the cam surface 91 of the cam 96 to engage the roller |01 and rock 'the arm 99 suiciently to causethe arms l and 2 to move the contacts ||3 and 4 into engagement with the contacts ||5 and H6, closing the circuit,

-above described, to the transformer primary |3,

energizing it and thereby the transformer secondary |0, causing electric current to flow through the electrodes 4 and 5 and the work 3, to effect a weld thereat.

The fluid pressure in the conduit 68 is also communicated directly to the underside of the lower piston through the fiow controlling port 80 and duct 19 and this fiow, being controlled by the needle valve 8|, effects a retarded continuationl of the movement of the piston 10, during which movement the roller |01 is maintained in engagement with the cam surface 98 of the cam 90, holding the said contacts closed.

After a predetermined .time interval determined by the adjustment of the needle valve 8|, the cam 96 leaves the roller |01 and the arm 99 under the impulsion of the 'spring |08 and returns counterclockwise, which effects opening of the said contacts and terminating of the welding current impulse.

. While the continued movement of the plunger 88 thus eiected may, in some cases, be relatively slow, .in which case the roller |01 will remain in contact with the cam surfaces 91 and 98, the

movement, in some cases, may be very rapid, corresponding to a desired very short current irnpulse, and to a relatively wide open adjustment of the needle valve 8|. In such cases, the movement of the cam 96 may kick the roller |01 and arm 99 away from the cam; and the time that it remains in its clockwise direction may be additionally determined by an inertia weight |69 on the arm ||0 below the shaft |00.

These latter` functions of the weight |69 and the arm 99 are more fully described in the copending application of Edward G. Beiderman, Serial Number 84,981, filed June 13, 1936, for Improvements in time controlled electric switches, to which-reference may be had.

The weld has now been effected and the welding current broken and the upward movement ,of the plunger 88 causes the arm 94 to engage the stop |28 and raise the valve |24 to its upper position described. Thereupon fluid pressure from the source 1 flows by way of the conduit |30 through the ducts |3| and |32, which are now aligned with the neck |38 of the valve, and the fluid pressure flows past the needle valve |35 into the duct |34 and through the conduit |33 to the cylinder |40 of the delayed operation device |39.

This fluid pressure in the cylinder |40 starts the piston |4| to move upwardly at a. rate determined by the adjustment of the needle valve |35. At the end of the time interval thus determined, which is the aforesaid cold-hold interval, the upper end of the stem |43 engages the contact arm |41 `and moves it out of engagement with the contact |5|.

It will be observed from the foregoing description of the energizing circuit of the relay |53, that its winding |54 is energized through the contact |5|, but is maintained through the contact |52, so the disengaging of the contact |5| effects no change. Continued upward movement of the stem |43 causes the adjustable screw |10 on the arm |41 to engage the arm |48 and move it out of engagement with the contact |52.

This effects de-energization of the relay winding |54, and of its contacts at |56 and |51, which respectively open the maintaining circuit for the relay and effect de-energization of the winding 41 and the winding 33.

The magnetic valve |4 thereupon resets under the action of the spring 20 and exhausts the conduit 26 out at the duct 3|, which is now aligned with the ducts 29 and 30, and also exhausts the cylinder 6 through the now aligned ducts 2|, 24, 22 and 25, which permits the spring 9 to raise the electrode 5 preparatory to another operation.

The de-energization of the winding 41 allows the spring 46 to reset the magnetic valve head 36 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, whereupon the cylinder 69 exhausts backwardly through the conduit 51, duct 5|, recess 55 and out at the duct 52 and conduit 58; and also exhausts the cylinder 60 outward through the duct 59 and conduit 56, duct 53, recess 55, duct 52 and conduit 58, causing both the plunger 88 and the piston 10 and valve piston 62 to reset to their original position.

When the plunger 88 thus resets it permits the spring |29 to restore the valve |24, whereupon the piston |4| of the delayed operation device |39 is moved downwardly by the spring |46 and exhausts the cylinder |40 through the duct |42, conduit |33, duct |34. past a needle valve |1| controlling the flow, thence through the duct |36; and out to atmosphere. The spring |44 thus moves piston |40 downwardly at a rate controlled by the needle valve developing a time interval which is the aforesaid delay interval. As the piston |4| moves downwardly it first effects engagement of the arm |48 with the contact |52, but this effects no change inasmuch as the con-e tact |52 is in the now open maintaining circuit for the relay winding |54. When, however, the piston moves downwardly still farther and at the end of the delay time interval, it permits the arm |41 to engage the contact |5I.

At this time, if the operators contactor |58 had been held closed, which would be the case if a succession of welds waswanted, the moment the contact |5| is engaged, the relay winding |54 would be again energized by the circuit above described, and the parts will go through another cycle of operation. A succeeding cycle, as will now be understood, cannot be effected until the piston |4| of the device |39 has reset, at the end of the delay time interval.

The device therefore, as will now be clear, controls and predetermines the cold-hold time interval during which the electrodes 4 and 5 remain engaged with the work after the welding current is interrupted, and the delay time interval which must elapse after one operation has been performed before another may be performed. It is also apparent that the cold-hold interval and the delay interval may be different, inasmuch as they are adjusted one independently of the other by the needle valves |35 and |1|.

It is to be noted that, in practice, the conduit 26, as well as the conduits 28, 23 and |8, may be of relatively great length; and that by providing a separate valve 21 for exhausting the device 6| and the main cylinder 69, these parts can reset in a very short interval of time independently of the exhaust oi the said conduits, so that the maximum number of operations per minute is possible with substantially unappreciable delay due to the exhausting of the air from the parts mentioned.

In the embodiment ofA my invention illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, the valve operated by the welding current contacter, (namely the valve |24, of Fig. 1) is dispensed with, and the functions thereof, namely the control of the fluid pressure to the delayed operation device |39, both for timing the cold-hold and the delay, are performed by a magnetic valve.

In view of the fact that the system generally is otherwise similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3, it is believed that this modification will be understood from a description of the operation thereof without a detailed description, in advance, of

the parts thereof.

Referring therefore to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, when the operators contacter |58, which again is preferably a normally open contacter, is closed, our rent hows trom' the supply main 59 through the winding l5# of the relay |53, through the contacter i156, by wire |66 to contacter arm H41, through the Contact |5| engaged with the arm., and by wires i6i and 62 to the other supply main iiitl, thereby operating the relay fied, causing to close contacts at 56 and iii'i, maintaining circuit is thereupon made for the winding 54 from the main i'ii through 'the winding 54 directly to and through the contacts |56 by Wire iiii through the contacter arm lit through the contact i152 engaged therewith, and by the wire 'to the main 63, so that the relay will remain operated even il the operators oontactor is opened,

It will now be observed that again, as in the form of Fig. 1, closing of the relay is effected through the contact |5| and it is maintained closed through the contact |52.

Upon operation of the relay, current iiows through from the main |63 through the closed contacts |51, by wire |68 and wire |61, to the winding 33 of the magnetic valve I4 and back by wires |66 and |12 to the supply main |59, operating the valve |4.

This, as described for the form of Fig. 1, admits fluid pressure from the source I1 to the cylinder 6, eiecting engagement of the electrodes 4 and 5 with the work 3.

The back pressure from the cylinder 6 builds up in the conduit 26, which is connected to a magnetic valve |13. This Valve is of similar structure to the valve 21, ot Fig. 1, but has a different arrangement of ducts and recesses. comprises radial ducts |14 to |8| inclusive, and three recesses in the head |82 thereof indicated at |83, |84 and |85, with which the axial terminations of the said ducts communicate in the following arrangement. In the normal position of the valve, illustrated in Fig. 4, the recess |83 eiects communication between the ducts and |8|, and the recess |85 effects communication between the ducts |15 and |11. In the operated position of the valve, illustrated in Fig 5, the recess |85 eiiects communication between the ducts |14, |15 and |16, and the recess |84 effects communication between the-ducts |18 and |19.

Referring again to Fig. 4, the back pressure in the conduit 26 communicating with the duct |11 and the recess |85 communicates the pressure through the duct |15 to the conduit 56 and thence to the underside of the piston valve 62 of the minimum pressure device 6|. When this pressure reaches the predetermined value, for which the spring 64 is adjusted, the valve 62 rises and admits the pressure to the conduit 68.

The pressure in the conduit 68 is communicated to the space 13 through the duct 11, and thence by way of duct 82 to the cylinder 69 underthe lower piston 16 causing the piston to move upwardly with a quick movement until the duct 11 is covered by the lower piston 10. Thereafter, the movement of the piston is controlled by iiuid pressure admitted through the duct 19 under the control of the needle valve 9|, which thereby controls the rate of movement of the pistons. The upward movement of the pistons raises the plunger 88, as described for Fig. l, closing and then opening again the contacts ||3-|I5 and ||4| |6 and sending a welding current of timed duration to the electrodes 4 and 5.

In the upper portion of the stroke of the plunger 88, a nger |82, on the plunger, engages an adjustable screw |81 on a pivoted contact arm |88, which is normally held by'a spring |89 against a stop |90, andmoves the arm to engage a contact |9|. Thereupon, current iiows 'from the supply main 59 by a wire |12 through the winding 41, arranged to lift the plunger 66, and by a wire |92 to the Contact lill, through the arm i822 and by a wire |63 through the contact arm M1 and contact itil, wires l6| and to 'the line 63. The plunger 43 is theren by raised, moving the magnetic valve E13 from the position of Fig, l. to that of Fig. 2, which positions are determined by egagement of a finger i8 on the valve head M32 with stops iii and 56. The magnetic valve head |82 has there on an arm di carrying the roller 42 engaged by the upper and lower fingers 44 and 45 of the plunger, and the arm 4| outwardly of the roller has an extension |94 thereon to which a flexible electric wire |95 is connected.

When the valve is operated by the plunger 44, as described, rotating the valve head |82, the extension |94 moves up to the dotted line position |94A, and engages a stationary contact |96. A maintaining circuit for the winding 41 is thereby made, the current now flowing from the line |59 through the winding 41, contact |96, thence through the arm |94, through the Wire |95 and thence by the wire |68 and contacts |51 to the line |63.

The operated position for the valve |13, shown in Fig. 2, immediately exhausts the contactor cylinder 69 and the minimum pressure device 6| as follows. The cylinder 69 communicates by conduit 51 with the duct |14 of the valve which is now connected through the recess |85 with the duct |16, which isv connected to an exhaust conduit |91. The conduit 56 of the minimum Apressure device 6| similarly exhausts through the duct |15, recess |85 and the exhaust conduit |91.

By means of this exhaust, the plunger 88 and the piston valve 62 immediately reset. Although downward movement of the plunger 88 again opens the contact at |9|, the plunger 43 is held up by the maintaining circuit for its winding 41, as described.

When the magnetic valve |13 moves to its operated position, uid pressure from the source |1 flows by a conduit |98 to the duct |18 and thence through the recess |84 to the duct |19 and out at conduit |99 and through a now-port 200 controlled by a needle valve 20|, and into a conduit 202, and thence through a duct |42 into the cylinder |40 of the delayed operation device |39 below the piston |4| thereof.

This is the same cold-hold and delay timing device as that of Fig. 1. Under the control o the needle valve 20|, which times'lts rate of movement, the piston |4| moves upwardly and the stem |43, after a short preliminary movement, engages the arm |41 and opens the contact |5|. No change is effected thereby and at the end of the time interval for which the valve 20| ls'et,the adjustable screw |10 on the arm |41 engages the arm |48 and disengages it from the contact |52.

This effects de-energization both of the winding |54 of the relay |53 and of the winding 41 of the magnetic valve |13, and these elements of the system reset, and the resetting of the relay |53 also eiects de-energization of the winding 33, and the magnetic valve |4 resets.

The parts are now in their original positions except for the timing device |39, of which the piston |4| is in the upper position. The spring |46 of that device now moves the piston |4| downwardly and exhausts the fluid from the cylinder |40 downwardly through the conduit 202, through a ow control port 203 under the control of a needle valve 204 into a conduit 206 connected with the duct |80, and the exhaust therefrom occurring by way of the duct |80, recess |83, duct |8|, and an exhaust conduit 205 connected to the duct |8|.

As the piston |4| descends, it first releases the arm |48 to engage the contact |52 and at, or near, the end of its stroke, releases the arm |41 to engage the contact |5|, and the parts are ready for another operation.

If the operators contactor |58 has been maintained closed, immediately upon engagement of the contact |5|, the parts will repeat their cycle but if the contactor |58 has beenopened, the parts will remain at rest until it is again closed.

It will be observed that in mode of operation, this form distinguishes from that of Fig. l, by the resetting of the plunger 88 and the minimum pressure valve piston 6|, immediately after the plunger 88 has completed its stroke.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction illustrated and described. Changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of my invention without sacrificing its advantages and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electro-fluid pressure system, a source of electric current, an expansible uid pressure chamber having a pressure movable wall, a source of fluid pressure and fluid pressure supply conduit means communicating with the pressure source and the chamber to supply fluid pressure thereto at a substantially unretarded rate, to eifect a quick initial substantially unretarded movement of the wall, an electric contactor comprising contacts, means operable by said initial movement to close the contacts, valve means operable by said initial movement to throttle the rate of fluid pressure supplied to the chamber to effect subsequent retarded movement of the wall, and means operable by said retarded movement to effect opening of the contacts at the end of a predetermined time interval of retarded movement.

2. In an electro-fluid pressure system, a fluid pressure cylinder and a movable piston therein, fluid pressure supply conduit means communicating with the cylinder to supply fluid pressure thereto at a substantially unretarded rate and at a retarded rate through ports in the cylinder wall,

to effect a quick initial substantially unretarded movement of the piston, an electric contactor comprising contacts, means operable by the said initial movement of the piston to close the contacts, the moving piston covering the unretarded flow port by said initial movement to effect supplying of fluid pressure to the cylinder through the retarded flow port to effect subsequent retarded movement/of the piston, and means operable by said retarded movement to effect opening of the contacts at the end of a predetermined time interval of retarded movement.

3. In an electro-fluid pressure system, a source of electric current, a source of fluid pressure, an expansible iiuid pressure chamber having a movable wall, fluid pressure supply conduit means communicating with the pressure source and the chamber to supply fluid pressure thereto at a substantially unretarded rate, to effect a quick initial substantially unretarded movement of tne wall, an electric contactor comprising contacts, means operable by said initial movement to close the contacts, means operable responsive to said initialmovement to reduce the rate of fluid pressure supplied to the chamber to effect subsequent retarded movement of the wall, and means operable by said retarded wall movement to effect opening of the contacts at the end of a predetermined time interval of said retarded movement.

HARRY R. CANFIELD. 

